Instant Epic

“Intensely alive with incredible timing” – Trønder Avisa, Norway

Instant Epic is a project that started its life with an improvisation workshop in 2003. Over time it has turned – very slowly – into a show. It is an improvised performance of epic proportions, involving theatre-makers from different companies working with us to make instant theatre that is moving, funny, ridiculous and profound.

Photo Frame

Improvisation and interaction with the audience is a huge part of NIE’s work and this show aims to let the audience into the making process, providing us with fresh inspiration and ideas.

Work on the show began in earnest during 2006 when NIE gave a scratch performance at the Festival of European Theatre Regions in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. We worked with actors from Theatre Sgaramush in Switzerland and with Shon and Jill from Hoipolloi in the UK before continuing development in 2008 with scratch performances at BAC, London and The Junction, Cambridge.

Instant Epic can be used as wrap-around activity to demonstrate NIEʼs methods of creating devised theatre. As this show is improvised and we cooperate with different actors on each occasion, the show is different every time it is played.